Walkouts not the way to dispute decisions

ROGER CRUTCHLEY

Thai football authorities need to remind the national team of the responsibilities they have as professional footballers. The players' actions during the match in Singapore on Wednesday night were out of order. Walking off the pitch when a decision goes against you is not the answer. It is simply not professional. It was understandable that the Thai players were upset by what was a very dubious decision by Malaysian referee C. Ravichandran to award Singapore a penalty. They had also earlier suffered some heavy tackles from the Singapore players. However, it did not warrant the Thai team marching off the pitch in a huff. That is the type of reaction you expect from schoolboys, not professional footballers.

Every week in the Premiership and other European leagues we witness wrong decisions being made by referees, some of them crucial to the final result. The players and managers certainly get angry and express their feelings. But you don't see teams walking off the pitch in protest. However upset you might be, the time to make a complaint is after the match through the correct channels.

Thankfully the Thai players saw sense and finally went back onto the pitch after an uncomfortable 15-minute delay. If they had not done so, Thailand would have been faced with severe repercussions. The kingdom has the honour of being one of the hosts for the Asian Cup this year and this could have been put into jeopardy if they had refused to carry on.

To earn the right to host such tournaments you are expected to behave in a professional manner and that did not happen in Singapore.

The best way the Thai team can redeem themselves is on the pitch. A good performance at Supachalasai stadium on Sunday night would go a long way to achieving that. They have the talent to do it.

It is important that calmness prevails on Sunday.

This is easier said than done. It is going to be difficult with a 30,000 crowd understandably seeking revenge for the perceived injustice Thailand experienced in Singapore.

It is a time for coach Chanvit Phalajhivin and team manger Thavatchai Sajakul to show strong leadership. They have to ensure the team goes out and plays its best football in a fair and professional manner on Sunday night. Cool heads must prevail. Whatever the outcome, they must accept it in a sporting manner.

The scene is set for what should be a thrilling game between the two best teams in Southeast Asia. Let's hope the match will be a memorable one for all the right reasons.

Bangkok Post
Friday February 02, 2007